Youth Support Worker

PLEA Community Services is currently seeking two (2) **Temporary Full-Time Youth Support Workers** for our U-Turn Specialized Residential Care Services team. The proposed start date for these positions is as soon as possible; both positions will end upon the return of each incumbent. These positions requires BCGEU membership.

The youth who access these services have not experienced success in other residential settings; they have complex care needs that require supported family care living environments with a heightened level of support and supervision, and a range of specialized services. These youth have been exposed to risk-provoking environments, and present with a variety of disabilities, mental health issues, challenging behaviours and involvement in the criminal justice system.

The Youth Support Worker is responsible for engaging the youth in one-to-one activities in the community that are aligned with the goals identified in their service plans, recognize their individual strengths and circumstances, and support their healthy development and sense of success and well-being.

These positions support youth aged 12 - 19.

**Position Type**: Temporary Full-Time
**Location**: Surrey, BC
**Hours of Work**: The _usual_ hours of work for both positions are Sunday to Thursday with a flextime scheduling arrangement of 35 working hours per week, which includes days and evenings.

**Minimum Requirements**:

- A Bachelor of Arts in the social sciences, human services or a related discipline.
- Work or volunteer experience in a residential care facility or foster home model program.
- At least one (1) year recent experience working in programs with youth who are deemed to be high risk and have complex needs, and/or are involved in the criminal justice system, and their families/caregivers.

**Who We Are**:
PLEA is an accredited, not-for-profit, charitable community services agency that has operated throughout BC for more than 40 years. We deliver high quality, innovative services to children, youth, adults, and families facing significant challenges in their lives. PLEA is an ally in reconciliation. The organization is committed to providing culturally safe programs and continuing to work towards breaking down the barriers that cause harm to Indigenous people and communities.

**What You Will Do**:

- Work closely with the Services Coordinator and Family Caregivers to support the goals identified in each youth's service plan. Develop and implement appropriate plans, strategies and activities that will address their complex needs, strengthen their protective factors and provide a sense of belonging and stability.
- Provide close supervision and support in the community that will assist youth to achieve their individual goals, maintain their motivation to make safer choices, improve their behavior, develop new interests and connections, and feel successful.
- Implement interventions that address the complex personal, social and healthcare needs of the youth, and recognize the contextual dynamics they are experiencing. Provide opportunities to access and reconnect to available resources in the community that will enable and encourage youth to develop the necessary educational, personal, social, vocational and self-advocacy skills. Include such community resources as an integral part of the youth’s case management plan.
- Maintain on-going positive relationships with Family Caregivers and participate as part of the team responsible for improving the quality of life for the youth, addressing their individual strengths, needs, abilities and preferences consistently, and supporting their healthy development.
- Teach life skills and community survival skills, provide emotional support and model acceptable behavior. Engage youth in acceptable recreational and social activities in the community that will build on their strengths, develop their interpersonal skills, and support their involvement in their culture to strengthen their sense of identity. Support youth towards integration and normative functioning in the community.
- Develop collaborative relationships with youths' families/caregivers, significant others and informal support systems to maintain and strengthen these connections.
- Respond to critical incidents and emergencies in current placements. Recognize potential crises, analyze these situations accurately and implement strategies to deal with them, and inform the manager when such situations arise. Provide on call and duty coverage for the program.
- Maintain necessary program participant and program reports and statistics. Ensure that all records, reports and documentation pertaining to service delivery are accurate, complete and in compliance with PLEA’s policies and procedures.
- Establish strong connections to the community, including maintaining close working relationships with all formal and informal service providers.
- Adhere to all policies and procedures established by PLEA, and meet the per